TRAVEL TO JAPAN - CURRENT JAPAN TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
Last Update on Japan Travel Advisory: September 27, 2022
Chureito Pagoda with Mt. Fuji in the background. You may have to wait just a bit to travel to Japan.
Current Tourism Situation: Border Closed
Since COVID hit in March 2020, Japan closed off its borders to the rest of the world. What seemed like a few months’ hiatus from international tourism turned out to be a 2 years-long nightmare. Currently, tourists can only dream of travelling to Japan. Get the latest updates, news, and resources on when you can travel to Japan.
This page will be updated every week.
Table of Contents
> THE CURRENT SITUATION - CAN I TRAVEL TO JAPAN?
NEW -> OCT. 11 2022: Starting Oct. 11, Visa-free travel will resume, opening the borders up for free independent travel. You can check if your country is a visa-free travel country on the Mofa website. You must be triple vaccinated or receive a negative PCR before departure.
Sept. 2022: Tourists no longer need to participate in group packaged tours with 24/7 guided surveillance. Non-escroted visitors on package tours will be allowed starting September 7, 2022. Tourists will still have to obtain an EFRS visa through a travel agency. The conditions and policy of non-escorted visitors on package tours are still unclear and are pending based on government decisions.
Starting September 7th, 2022: Pre-departure COVID tests will no longer be needed for those who are triple vaccinated.
Tourists from most countries can enter on packaged tours. Students, Business travellers, and family members of long-term/permanent residents can all enter. All of these travellers require visas that may take some time to get. Please contact your local embassy for more information. Independent tourists still CANNOT enter.
June 2022: Japan has opened its borders to very few tourists (roughly 50) on group, set itinerary tours. Accepted daily business and student visas went from 10,000 to 20,000 people.
MAY 17, 2022 update: Japan will begin a trial project this month and accept small group tours from Australia, the United States, Singapore and Thailand. The tours will be packaged tours where Japanese agencies will manage the tour and itineraries. Certain conditions such as being tripled vaccinated and being accompanied by the travel agency will need to be met. No links are available for the tours at the moment. Will it be open soon? Read our opinion below.
May 7, 2022 update: Prime Minister Kishida announces that tourism may resume in June 2022. Read the brief summary below under the “When will Japan life the travel” section.
Family members of foreign residents and Japanese citizens can enter Japan. Details are under the “Relative” Visa section below.
Tourists are still barred from entry into Japan
Foreign business travelers and students can now enter Japan, given that they have the proper visa. You must apply in advance and have a sponsor in Japan.
Permanent residents and citizens can leave and enter Japan
Quarantine upon entry into Japan ranges from 0 to 7 days depending on your departure destination and vaccination status. You can get the full information on the MOFA Website or check out our Japan Entry Process section below.
Japan is coming close to opening borders. Make sure you are prepared to travel to Japan by contacting us to help plan your next trip! Scroll to the bottom to get in contact with us.
Japan Times: Everything you need to know for traveling to Japan
> WHEN WILL JAPAN LIFT THE TRAVEL BAN? (OPINION)
June 2022: Prime Minister Kishida announces that Japan may open up in June 2022 to tourists. After his visit to London at the end of April, the PM stated that it will consider bringing its border situation up to par with G7 nations. During this trial, only small groups of tourists will be allowed to enter with fixed itineraries. This way, the government can see how it can grasp the movement of tourists if there is a COVID outbreak.
The Japanese government hasn’t given any updates or concrete plans on when exactly the borders will open up for tourism. But, we can make some speculations based on events that will occur in the near future.
There was some hope in March 2022 when 106 countries were granted permission to enter Japan. Unfortunately, this meant it was only for students and foreign business travelers. Then in, April 2022, the government decided to issue visas for relatives of citizens, permanent residents, and long-term residents residing in Japan (read more about it below). So, there is progress, but slow progress.
There are a few things to look for to give us a basic idea of when Japan will open up to tourists. The first is the general election that will happen in July. According to Japan Times, when Prime Minister Kishida issued the ban on new foreign arrivals in December 2021 amidst a rise in Omicron cases, 89% of Japanese people approved of the ban. It’s quite possible that the government will wait to make final decisions on reopening the border, until after the July 2022 elections, to minimize political risks.
The second is the Japan Tourism Expo in September 2022. A panel consisting of top executives in the Japanese travel agencies has been urging the government to re-open Japanese borders for inbound tourism. They are also expecting to be able to host the Japan Tourism Expo in September 2022, with foreign travelers being able to attend. How can a country host a tourism expo when it has no tourists? Let’s hope the borders can open soon!
So with that being said, we hope Japan will open sometime around the fall!
>WHAT HAPPENS AFTER JAPAN LIFTS THE TRAVEL BAN? (OPINION)
We can only speculate what happens after the border opens, but seeing how Japan has handled everything so far we can probably guess that Japan won’t immediately open up and allow unlimited tourists to enter with no restrictions. It’s possible that these rules could stick around:
A negative PCR test 72 hours before departure
Proof of 3 vaccination shots
Not a rule, but masks may be worn even after COVID with high participation. With Japan being a mask-wearing country BEFORE this global pandemic, don’t be surprised if most of Japan is still wearing masks. You may need to comply with these rules when entering restaurants, joining Tokyo tours/activities, etc.
While these are just speculations, it’s possible that if you are a tourist, you will have to comply with these in the earlier stages. It’s also quite possible to see a limit on how many tourists are allowed in per day/week/month. We have seen this with business and student visas, so it could be possible for tourists in the first couple of months where you would need to apply for a tourist visa.
Tours and activities likely won’t be restricted to tourists. So you can join fun activities such as our Tokyo food tour or private customized tours to immerse yourself into Japanese cuisine and culture!
> NEW “RELATIVE” VISAS
Since April 2022, Japan has been issuing “relative visas”. The following definitions from government materials qualify for relative visas:
A foreign national who is newly entering Japan for the purpose of visiting a relative where the foreign national is within the second degree of kinship of a Japanese national/permanent resident, or within the first degree of kinship of a “Long-Term Resident”
A relative who supports or takes care of a resident in Japan who is sick or pregnant.
A relative who is visiting because a resident in Japan has died or is in critical condition.
A relative who is entering Japan to accompany a minor or a person who is not capable of entering Japan by him/herself due to an illness or other reasons.
So basically, if you have a relative in Japan that is a Japanese citizen, permanent resident, or long-term resident, you can probably visit. Note that not everyone residing in Japan is one of these three statuses. For foreign residents, you can check your residence card to ensure you are a long-term resident. Short-term residents may not qualify.
The process is on a case-by-case basis, so we can’t say for sure that you will be able to visit if you have a relative here. Some things to keep in mind:
Paperwork will be necessary on both sides of the party. You can contact your embassy for more detailed information on what is necessary for the paperwork. We have included some resources below to help you get started!
The process can take anywhere from 5-8 weeks, so plan ahead!
If you successfully receive your visa, you are NOT exempt from quarantine and negativd PCR tests upon entry. However, you are free to move around Japan, after your quarantine (if quarantine is necessary for you).
Begin the application by contacting your local embassy.
>JAPAN ENTRY PROCEDURES
So great, you got your visa and you’re ready to travel to Japan! Here’s what you need to know before entering Japan:
EVERYONE must have a negative PCR test 72 hours before your flight. There are strict formats you must follow for your PCR test. Check here for full details.
-> Pre-departure PCR tests will no longer be needed for triple vaccinated people starting September 7, 2022.
Ensure smooth entry by registering with fast track. Fast track allows you to upload your negative PCR test, vaccine passports, and passport information to allow you to skip the long lines at the airport upon arrival. If you have a “green screen” on your fast track app, then you only need to take a negative PCR test when you arrive, saving you a couple hours! Check out the fast track details here.
Countries are currently classified as a Blue, Yellow, and Red countries. Requirements for each colors are different for entry requirements. You can check which color country you are from on the MOFA website listed in our resources section.
Quarantine differs based on your vaccination status and departure country. Check the chart below. In addition, accepted first and second doses must be from:
・Comirnaty/Pfizer・Vaxzevria/AstraZeneca・COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna/Moderna・Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine/Janssen・COVAXIN/Bharat Biotech・Nuvaxovid/Novavax
accepted third doses:
・Comirnaty/Pfizer・COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna/Moderna・Nuvaxovid/Novavax
5. ALL RESOURCES REGARDING BORDER CONTROL
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OFFICIAL COVID BORDER CONTROL PAGE
JAPAN COVID NEWS
INFO REGARDING “RELATIVE” VISAS
Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles (Basic info on the application for “relative visas for those in US”)
Regarding denial of landing and special exceptional circumstances (who can and cannot enter)
INFO REGARDING JAPAN ENTRY PROCEDURE
Fast Track Registration (To ensure smooth and fast airport arrival)
Information regarding anyone entering Japan (Apps to download, quarantine info)
Getting ready to travel to Japan? Contact us to start setting up your trip to Japan. Consultations, Tokyo tours, Tokyo food tours and more.
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